Under-reaction
Recognizing a real problem challenge us to see what is really happening. The first mistake was an overreaction. This mistake is an under-reaction.
❖ JOURNAL 19: The blind spot
Can you think of a situation in which a parent might decide a child does not have a problem when in, in fact, a significant problem does exist? Consider the following situations:
Terry is an aggressive preschooler who frequently harms other children his age and younger. His dad shrugs off the problem saying, “Well, he's got a little spunk, that one.”
Deirdre is a moody fifteen-year-old who spends a lot of time in her room alone. She rarely goes out with friends. She seems depressed and is losing weight. “It's just a phase,” her mother says.
Should these problems be shrugged off? What are some of the reasons these parents might have reacted the way they did? Identify what may be some of your own blind spots in regard to your children.
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